Artist Portfolio Guide - Create your Online Artist Portfolio

Creating your online Art Portfolio is easy with Artists and Illustrators. In less than 5 minutes you can set up an attractive portfolio to let you showcase your artwork. Follow our step-by-step guide to create your artists portfolio.

Register your Artists Portfolio

First things first, you need to register your portfolio. Click 'Register' at the top of the site to set up your artist portfolio

Now on the registration page, you need to decide what type of art portfolio you would like to set up.

There are two options:

1. Portfolio Plus - Portfolio Plus is the premium portfolio for artists, which allows you to showcase your art in online exhibitions, to sell you art without any commission on our site in our Original Art for Sale pages. Portfolio Plus members also recieve discounts on art materials, exclusive offers and invites to gallery openings.

2. Portfolio Standard - This is the free option. While your profile can be found in our Artists A-Z, your work will not be found in the Art For Sale area.

Update your Portfolio

Sign in to your account, by clicking 'Sign In' at the top of the screen, and enter your email and password. Click 'Sign In'

You will now be directed to your Porfolio for the first time - the dashboard which you use to control your portfolio account. If you want to return to this screen at any point, click 'My Portfolio' in the navigation bar.

In the screenshot below you will see:

1. Your personal Header menu

While you are logged in on the site, this blue header bar will be present on every page. It means that you are only ever one click away from being able to update your portfolio. In this example, I have moved my mouse over 'My Profile' to reveal a drop down menu of options.

2. Useful buttons

These are some of the most commonly used buttons - Edit Profile, Add Artwork and Add Blog. You can use these buttons to start adding to your artists portfolio.

3. Your Artwork

When you start uploading your paintings this is where you will be able to manage them. Your images will be displayed here as small thumbnail images to make them easy for you to manage - please note they will still be displayed full size to visitors of the site.

4. Your Blogs

Write your own blogs from here. Blogs are a good way to explain your inspiration, and to let people know about what you are doing as an artist. They will be added to your own artist portfolio, and also appear in the Blogs section of the website.

Edit your profile

Your profile represents who you are as an artist. It's worth filling out your profile with as much information as possible to let people know more about you - who you are and what inspires your work.

Start editing your profile by putting your mouse over 'My Profile' in the top menu bar, and then select 'Edit Profile' from the drop-down menu.

Facebook

If you have a Facebook you can connect your Facebook profile to your Portfolio profile. It makes it easy to share your art to a wider audience, as every time you upload a new painting it can be automatically shared with your facebook friends.

Personal information

Enter information about you in these fields. The 'About Me' box is where you can write a lot about who you are, your history and what inspires you.

Avatar / Profile Picture

This is where you upload a photo of yourself.

Upload your Artwork

Have you got a good photograph of your painting saved on your computer? If so, you will now be able to upload it to your portfolio.

To upload your first painting click 'My Portfolio' to get to your artists dashboard, and then click the 'Add Artwork'

Information about your artwork

When you are on the Artwork page, fill out as much of the information as possible, including the size in centimetres, the price, subject and medium.

Upload your artwork

Click this button to find your painting file on your computer and to upload it. The image size is recommended to be no larger that 5,000 pixels on either side, so in the event that you are having difficulty getting the image to load you could try resizing it on your computer.

When you are happy with your artwork information, make sure that 'Would you like this painting to appear on the site' is set to yes, and then click 'Submit'.

View your artist Portfolio

You are now ready to view your Portfolio, to see it how everyone else will see it.

An easy way to get to your portfolio is using the handy blue bar at the top of the screen. Put you mouse over 'My Profile' and select 'View Profile' from the drop down menu. This will show you your full artist profile, and let you view each of your paintings.

The easiest and best way that people can find your portfolio is by going straight to this URL, so make ure that you publicise it as much as possible. Link to it from other websites, include it in your forum posts, add it to your email signature, and print it on any marketing materials.

2. Browse the A-Z of Artists

All portfolio members, whether standard or Portfolio Plus, are listed in our A-Z of artists. You can browse alphabetically or search for your name.

3. Your paintings are listed Art For Sale (Portfolio Plus only)

Portfolio Plus members can list their art in the Art For Sale area of the site. As a visual searchable database of art, this is the best way for art buyers to find your work. Art in Art for Sale can be browsed by Genre, Medium, Price or by Tags.

Write a Blog

Writing a blog - a short or long article on the subject of your choosing - is a great way to add personality to your profile and to help people find you. Any blogs you write appear on your portfolio itself and in the Portfolio Blogs section of the website.

To write a blog entry move your mouse to Portfolio in the header bar and select 'Blog'

Click 'Write New Blog' to get started.

Key points when writing a blog are:

Title - a short snappy title which encourages people to click on your blog

Teaser - this is a sentence that is a short description of what the article covers

Content - this is where you write the blog. It can be as long or short as you like, and about any subject. Some ideas for what to write about include: What inspires you? What have been the best experiences you have had through your art? What events or exhibitions have you been to recently? For more advice read how to write a great art blog

When you are ready for it to be seen on the site, make sure that you click ' Published' and then 'Submit'

That's all there is to it! Good luck with setting up your Artist Portfolio, and remember to promote it as widely as you can so that other artists and art buyers can enjoy your work. After all, there's no point hiding your light under a bushel!